‘OPERATION 10-46’ AND ‘GHOST OUT’ PROMOTE STUDENT SAFETY

Firefighters and EMS work to extract and treat victims of Friday’s “Operation 10-46” mock accident on the Adair County Middle School football field. All juniors and seniors at ACHS witnessed the program.

Juniors and seniors at Adair County High School sat through a pair of programs Friday morning aimed to encourage healthy decision-making and illuminate the dangers of distracted driving. “Operation 10-46” and “Ghost Out” – a mock accident and mock memorial, respectively – served as a reminder to students to remain safe and avoid risky behavior Saturday before, during, and after prom.

“The reason to do it is to make kids recognize the dangers, not just of drinking and driving but distracted driving as well,” says ACHS EMS instructor Preston Gaskin, who worked with the Youth Services Center to present the programs. “I think it went exceptionally well. If it stops just one kid from making a decision that could cost a life, then it was worth it.”

“Operation 10-46” – formerly known as “Safety Zone” – featured a two-car crash with 10 victims, including four fatalities. Eight students and two teachers volunteered to play the injured/deceased subjects. Responders to the accident included Columbia Police, Adair County Sheriff Dept., Adair County Coroner, Adair EMS, Columbia-Adair Fire Dept., Breeding Fire Dept., Air Evac Lifeteam, PHI Air Medical, Grissom-Martin Funeral Home, and Stotts-Phelps-McQueary Funeral Home.

“Our hope is that it influences the students to be extra vigilant, avoid distractions, and make good decisions,” says Jaime White, the Youth Services Center coordinator at ACHS. “Sometimes telling them something doesn’t have the same impact as showing them.”

Immediately following “Operation 10-46” the students returned to the ACHS gym for “Ghost Out.” The program featured several speakers, a slideshow of Adair County automobile accidents, and – most harrowingly – the reading of 11 obituaries, made up of the 10 students and one teacher who volunteered to participate.

Adair County EMS Asst. Manager and Critical Care Paramedic Daryl Flatt shared an account of an accident he and his wife were in a few years ago, one in which both were seriously injured. Heather VanArsdale also spoke, sharing her own near-death experience, which left her in a coma for 45 days. Gaskin and ACHS Principal Troy Young addressed the students as well.

“Do not let your mistakes lead to what we’ve witnessed here today,” Young told the students. “Do not let your decisions lead to this.”

Gaskin and White wish to thank the many agencies and organizations, as well as the teacher and student volunteers, who participated Friday for their efforts to educate local students on such a serious issue. “We’re so thankful for every single individual for taking time out of their day to do this,” White says. “It’s great to see the community come together for a cause as important as our students’ safety.”

Firefighters load one of the victims in Friday morning’s mock accident into an ambulance as part of the “Operation 10-46” presentation to encourage healthy decision-making.

ACHS senior Michaela Walker, English teacher Robyn Mantooth, and senior Brady Hixson were three of the 11 participants in Friday morning’s “Ghost Out” program to have their obituaries read to the junior and senior class. “Ghost Out” – along with “Operation 10-46” – is presented prior to prom to promote healthy decisions.

Twelve emergency-response vehicles and two helicopters descended upon the ACMS football field Friday morning to take part in “Operation 10-46” – a mock accident staged to teach ACHS juniors and seniors the severe consequences of distracted driving.